RNLI submits planning application for repair and restoration of Birnbeck Pier

Permission is being sought by Studio Four Architects, the RNLI’s appointed architect. If granted, the repair and restoration of the pier will restore public access to the island and allow the RNLI to pursue its ambition to re-establish lifesaving operations from Birnbeck, which is the safest and most effective location from which to launch the lifeboats at all states of tide.

Since the unsafe state of the pier forced the RNLI off Birnbeck Island in 2014, the volunteer lifeboat crew have operated from temporary storage containers on the plaza next to Marine Lake. Despite the assessment of numerous alternative sites in and around Weston-super-Mare, Birnbeck Island remains the most suitable for lifeboat operations because it allows access to water at almost all states of tide due to its geography and geology.

The RNLI is in the process of submitting a separate but concurrent Planning and Listed Building Consent Application for a proposed new lifeboat station which should be made public early next month.

Andy Wright, RNLI Area Operations Manager for Weston-super-Mare, said:

‘It’s great, after months of hard work, by many people behind the scenes, to have finally reached the stage of applying for planning permission for this phase of the project. The repair of Birnbeck Pier is integral to restoring public access to Birnbeck Island, and for the RNLI this is a critical step towards realising its ambition to re-establish lifesaving operations from Birnbeck.’

Councillor Mark Canniford, North Somerset Council's executive member responsible for the Birnbeck Pier project, said:

‘I’m delighted to see the RNLI submitting these proposals for planning approval. Not only does it represent that we’ve reached another important milestone in the project timeline, it also demonstrates that the RNLI and North Somerset Council are working closely together to achieve shared objectives. I look forward to seeing the submission of the RNLI’s next planning application - for the new lifeboat station on the island. Once all the applications have been determined we can continue to jointly drive forward with our work at pace.’

The whole project – to restore Birnbeck Pier and Island – has been made possible thanks to funding from the RNLI, UK government (formerly called the Levelling Up Fund), National Heritage Memorial Fund, The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Historic England.

To find out more about the Birnbeck Pier project, visit the information hub next to the pier or the council’s website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/birnbeckpierproject.

Required site investigations and surveys mean people might have seen contractors and people in safety clothing on the island, however for safety reasons it is essential that these visits are done in a carefully managed and coordinated way. It is an extremely dangerous site, and members of the public should keep away. Birnbeck Pier was closed to the public in 1994 due to safety concerns and has continued to deteriorate. People are urged not to attempt to walk out to the island at low tide or to cross the pier.

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

· The Planning and Listed Building application numbers are 24/P/1907/FUL and 24/P/1908/LBC and the application can be accessed on the council’s website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/planning. There people can find more information on the proposals, including detailed drawings.

· This planning application is separate to planning application reference 24/P/0679/R3 submitted in April by Haverstock, North Somerset Council’s appointed architect practice. That application, to restore and regenerate the landside buildings, convert the 1888 boathouse and stabilise the landside structures, was approved in August (www.n-somerset.gov.uk/news/planning-application-granted-first-phase-birnbeck-pier-project).

· North Somerset Council purchased Birnbeck Pier and Island in July 2023 thanks to £400k funding from the RNLI. The purchase means North Somerset Council and the RNLI can start work jointly on the restoration of Birnbeck Pier and Island. North Somerset Council and the RNLI would like to thank all partners, funders and supporters who are making this project possible. This includes the UK government for providing £4.4m; National Heritage Memorial Fund for providing £3.55m of emergency funding from the UK government Cultural Assets Fund (CAF) to help strengthen the pier legs and create an interim walkway onto the island; The National Lottery Heritage Fund for supporting with an initial grant of £234,761 to enable plans to progress for a full grant application of £4.2m at a later date and Historic England for contributing £1m to the restoration works. North Somerset Council is working closely with Birnbeck Regeneration Trust who it is planned will manage the site in a staged process once restoration works are complete, starting with the opening of the restored Pier Master’s Cottage.

· The current anticipated Birnbeck Pier project timeline:

Ø Autumn/winter 2024 to summer/autumn 2025 – repair and renovation work to the landside buildings.

Ø Spring/summer 2025 to spring/summer 2026 – pier deck construction and repair work to strengthen the pier.

Ø Summer 2025 to summer/autumn 2026 – building work to create a new RNLI lifeboat station and visitor centre.

Ø Spring/summer 2026 to autumn/winter 2026 – further work to the enhance the pier deck, repair the island sea wall, stabilise the pavilion and install interpretation boards and visitor information.

· About the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates over 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives. A Lifeboat station in Weston as this point in the Bristol Channel, is a key lifesaving asset. Since 2000, the volunteer crew at Weston have launched 1,064 times, aided 572 people and saved 85 people’s lives. The RNLI were forced to leave Birnbeck in 2014 after the pier was deemed too dangerous. After many years of investigation of over 20 alternative sites in and around Weston, Birnbeck Island offers the charity the safest and most effective place for the volunteer RNLI crew to launch and recover their lifeboats. It is the only place that the volunteers can safely provide a lifesaving service for the town at all stages of tide.

· About the UK Government

In January 2023, North Somerset Council announced that Weston-super-Mare would benefit from £20m investment thanks to a successful bid to the UK government (formerly called the Levelling Up Fund).

More information can be found in the news release distributed at the time www.n-somerset.gov.uk/news/council-wins-cash-boost-weston and on the council’s website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/improvingweston.

· About the National Heritage Memorial Fund

The National Heritage Memorial Fund (NHMF) was set up in 1980 to save the most outstanding parts of our national heritage, in memory of those who have given their lives for the UK. NHMF receives annual grant-in-aid of £5million from the UK government to help save some of our most-loved treasures such as paintings, natural heritage, maritime and industrial vessels, and historic houses, from being lost forever. Any funds remaining from NHMF’s annual allocation at the end of the financial year remain available to NHMF to award grants to exceptional heritage treasures such as the Portrait of Mai (Omai), The Artist Rooms, Titian’s Diana and Acteon, the Honresfield Library, Tyntesfield Estate and Wentworth Woodhouse. www.nhmf.org.uk @NationalHeritageMemorialFund #NationalHeritageMemorialFund

· About The National Lottery Heritage Fund

National Lottery Heritage Fund grant applications over £250,000 are assessed in two rounds. Birnbeck Pier has initially been granted round one development funding of £234,761 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, allowing it to progress with its plans. Detailed proposals are then considered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund at second round, where a final decision is made on the full funding award of £4,290,442. As the largest dedicated funder of the UK’s heritage, The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s vision is for heritage to be valued, cared for and sustained for everyone, now and in the future as set out in our strategic plan, Heritage 2033. Over the next ten years, the Heritage Fund aims to invest £3.6billion raised for good causes by National Lottery players to bring about benefits for people, places and the natural environment. The Heritage Fund helps protect, transform and share the things from the past that people care about, from popular museums and historic places, our natural environment and fragile species, to the languages and cultural traditions that celebrate who we are. The Heritage Fund is passionate about heritage and committed to driving innovation and collaboration to make a positive difference to people’s lives today, while leaving a lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy. Follow @HeritageFundUK on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram and use #NationalLotteryHeritageFund www.heritagefund.org.uk.

· About Historic England

We are Historic England: the public body that helps people care for, enjoy and celebrate England’s spectacular historic environment, from beaches and battlefields to parks and pie shops. We protect, champion and save the places that define who we are and where we’ve come from as a nation. We care passionately about the stories they tell, the ideas they represent and the people who live, work and play among them. Working with communities and specialists we share our passion, knowledge and skills to inspire interest, care and conservation, so everyone can keep enjoying and looking after the history that surrounds us all. Find out more about how the historic environment can help our wellbeing. 

· About Birnbeck Regeneration Trust

The Birnbeck Regeneration Trust is a charity established in 2004 with the objective to preserve the natural, historical, architectural and constructional heritage of Birnbeck Pier, Island and surrounding local area for the benefit of the people of Weston-super-Mare and the nation. Aligned with the Friends of the Old Pier Society, the Trust engaged with various previous owners to facilitate Birnbeck's restoration and return it to its former splendour. A renewed collective effort has revitalized the Trust since North Somerset Council took ownership in 2023. Once the project is complete, the aim is for the Trust to manage the site on behalf of North Somerset Council, as the freeholder, and in conjunction with the RNLI as the pier’s other tenant.

· About North Somerset Council

North Somerset Council is a unitary authority located in the south west of England. Birnbeck Pier is located in Weston-super-Mare, one of four towns in North Somerset. There are four piers in North Somerset, of which Birnbeck Pier is one of three in Weston-super-Mare. It is also one of only six Grade II* Listed piers in England and the only one to link to an island in the UK. There are four further Grade II structures and buildings located on the island and the landward end of the site. The pier was designed by Eugenius Birch, the noted Victorian engineer. Construction took place between 1862 and 1867, with the foundation stone laid in 1864. It opened to the public in 1866 and closed in 1994 for safety reasons. For more information about the project visit www.n-somerset.gov.uk/birnbeckpierproject. You can also find out more about the wider placemaking plans for Weston-super-Mare at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/placemaking.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.